I am fairly anxious/worried about this prospect from a financial perspective. I know there are some sagacious contributors to this site - some with wombs - so thought I'd put my thoughts here to see if you have any advice for me.
I have been working in a decent enough role for the past 4.5 yrs with decent benefits in terms of pension, health insurance etc. I am the main "bread-winner" of the household with a 60K salary. My husband's salary is 32K, no pension or benefits of any kind - and a huge chunk of that goes on petrol travelling 160 kms a day to a job outside Dublin. We are based in Dublin, have a negative equity mortgage that amounts to €1,400 a month and is likely to rise. We have no other debts.
My husband likes his job well enough. Due to a number of changes over the past few years, I really dislike mine. There is a lack of leadership, I have had to spend hours on my laptop every day during my "holidays" - and I am thinking of applying for other jobs - at larger firms where I can take a genuine holiday, where there are support structures, proper HR etc.
What is stopping me is that we want to start a family. I could be expecting now for all I know, and I feel "trapped" in my current role as I am afraid to switch job and to have the break the news that I am expecting 6 or 7 months into a new role where I want to be taken seriously.
I guess I am just looking for advice from any lady contributors who have found themselves in similar positions. We would have 2 children maximum, and I don't know if it's better to take maternity pay, but then quit and have child 2 a.s.a.p. - take 2 years out before returning. The husband's salary being what it is has me terrified of the consequences of doing this. I really hate the idea of leaving a 6 month old in day care for what would amount to a 10 hour day due to commute times. It's a huge life question that has arisen out of something good (relative career success), but which is also eating away at me. I am very conscious too of age. I am 36 now, and would be 39 or maybe 40 when trying to re-enter the workforce were I to take time out.
Part of me thinks I should stick with current role, head down, don't rock the boat, even though I am very unhappy with the status quo.
The other part of me wants to say "screw it" and switch job now to a role that I might actually be excited to return to post baby.
Any advice?
Thanks,
Pearl
I have been working in a decent enough role for the past 4.5 yrs with decent benefits in terms of pension, health insurance etc. I am the main "bread-winner" of the household with a 60K salary. My husband's salary is 32K, no pension or benefits of any kind - and a huge chunk of that goes on petrol travelling 160 kms a day to a job outside Dublin. We are based in Dublin, have a negative equity mortgage that amounts to €1,400 a month and is likely to rise. We have no other debts.
My husband likes his job well enough. Due to a number of changes over the past few years, I really dislike mine. There is a lack of leadership, I have had to spend hours on my laptop every day during my "holidays" - and I am thinking of applying for other jobs - at larger firms where I can take a genuine holiday, where there are support structures, proper HR etc.
What is stopping me is that we want to start a family. I could be expecting now for all I know, and I feel "trapped" in my current role as I am afraid to switch job and to have the break the news that I am expecting 6 or 7 months into a new role where I want to be taken seriously.
I guess I am just looking for advice from any lady contributors who have found themselves in similar positions. We would have 2 children maximum, and I don't know if it's better to take maternity pay, but then quit and have child 2 a.s.a.p. - take 2 years out before returning. The husband's salary being what it is has me terrified of the consequences of doing this. I really hate the idea of leaving a 6 month old in day care for what would amount to a 10 hour day due to commute times. It's a huge life question that has arisen out of something good (relative career success), but which is also eating away at me. I am very conscious too of age. I am 36 now, and would be 39 or maybe 40 when trying to re-enter the workforce were I to take time out.
Part of me thinks I should stick with current role, head down, don't rock the boat, even though I am very unhappy with the status quo.
The other part of me wants to say "screw it" and switch job now to a role that I might actually be excited to return to post baby.
Any advice?
Thanks,
Pearl